It’s all hands on deck in Bayside Melbourne!

A real team effort from the Rotary Club of Brighton, Brighton Secondary College and Sandringham Yacht Club has provided new career pathways for local students.

Academia is not always the right path for every student and alternative career pathways are not always forthcoming, so Rotary, the local Secondary College and the Sandringham Yacht club made their own. After consultation with Parents, educators and students, an 18 week program was designed to provide usable skills, hands-on training and employment opportunities for students from years 10 to 12.

During terms one and two of each academic year, students from Brighton Secondary College are taken to Sandringham Yacht Club every Wednesday by careers teacher John Frawley, to aprticipate in the Marine Industry Preparation Program. Sandringham Yacht Club provide a well-structured program of instruction in Australian Yachting Federation sailing, boat operation and radio operator licensing, as well as exposure to the myriad of marine industries that support the burgeoning recreational sailing industry.

In the 18 week course, students qualify as sailing instructors, crew on larger yachts, obtain their boat and radio operator licenses, and have fun. At the end of the course they are engaged in paid employment by the yacht club and support industries.

The success of the program has been its own reward with a large waiting list for the future courses, providing many happy students, families and teachers.